Middletown teen learning game of golf in Chicago, vying for college scholarship

This summer, 90 high school females from 13 states, including Middletown High School student Camille Kennedy, 14, are taking part in the Western Golf Association Caddie Academy, which provides underprivileged teen girls who may not have access to such programs. Upon completion of the three-year program, students can apply for a full college scholarship. less

This summer, 90 high school females from 13 states, including Middletown High School student Camille Kennedy, 14, are taking part in the Western Golf Association Caddie Academy, which ... more

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This summer, 90 high school females from 13 states, including Middletown High School student Camille Kennedy, 14, are taking part in the Western Golf Association Caddie Academy, which provides underprivileged teen girls who may not have access to such programs. Upon completion of the three-year program, students can apply for a full college scholarship. less

This summer, 90 high school females from 13 states, including Middletown High School student Camille Kennedy, 14, are taking part in the Western Golf Association Caddie Academy, which ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

Middletown teen learning game of golf in Chicago, vying for college scholarship

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MIDDLETOWN — Fourteen-year-old Camille Kennedy is spending her first summer away from home in the Midwest learning a skill she never anticipated having the opportunity to explore.

The incoming sophomore at Middletown High School is among 90 teens from 13 states taking part in the Western Golf Association’s seventh annual caddie academy. The program provides underprivileged teen girls who may not have access to the sport a chance to shine.

Upon completion of the three-year program, graduates can apply for a four-year college scholarship, which includes boarding.

“I have a feeling that this is something that I can pick up, and I can learn, and, if I really keep trying, then I’ll be really good at it if I just keep putting in all the work,” said Camille, who is an honor roll student and track and field player at MHS.

The best part of the job, she said is meeting peers from around the country, making friends, and playing an integral part in golfers’ success on the 18-hole courses.

“We understand that everyone has needs, especially when it comes to financial need. We look at the degree of need and how it applies to our standards, how compares to the applicant pool,” said Mike Maher, senior director, Education & Caddies, at WGA.

This year, 11 young men are returning to the program, too. Half of the students come from the Chicago area and the others from around the country.

“Camille’s our superstar,” Maher said.

Many had never flown on a plane, been on a golf course, or had caddie knowledge or experience.

“We ask for two things: to work hard and be nice. We’re convinced that the caliber of young women, and now young men, that we select for our program, if they commit to the right attitude and the right effort, we’re confident that doors will open for them,” Maher said.

These youth are high performers in and outside the classroom. So far, 35 have graduated and earned the scholarship.

“It’s been magical. Most of our first-year participants show up reserved, somewhat anxious, unaware about what caddying involves. This is the first time they’ve been away from home,” Maher said.

“There’s a lot of newness to it, however, within a short time frame, we have girls who come back. It’s incredible to see the natural progression of leadership — they go from introverted to really transforming into a counselor, junior counselor, and making sure the first-year participants are getting along well,” he added.

This year, 12 Caddie Academy participants were awarded the Evans Scholarship and will begin college this fall.

Charles “Chick” Evans, Chicago’s legendary caddie turned amateur golfer, donated all his winnings as an amateur and earmarked them to help send deserving caddies to college in 1930, Maher said.

Evans’ family moved to Chicago in 1893, and five years later, at 8, he began caddying at Edgewater Golf Club, according to the WGA.

Now, students spend their summer break outside working in a secure environment with adults who take an interest in them and their success, Maher said. They learn personal communication, as well as time and money management.

“These are self-motivated self-starters. It’s a valuable chance to see golf from the other side of the golf bag,” he added.

“I was really excited, but also kind of nervous, because I knew nothing about golf or caddying at all. I knew if I kept doing it, I could apply to the Evans Scholarship, which would be amazing,” Camille said.

She and the others wake up at 5:30 a.m. six days a week, leave their rooms at 6 a.m., and learn their assigned “loops,” she said. Camille is now at the end of her third week.

“It’s really interesting. Personally, I don’t think I would be able to play it, but I’m going to keep caddying and learning more about it because it’s a really interesting sport,” she said.

“She’s not unlike many of the girls. She was reserved when she showed up, but she’d be the first to tell you she’s completed seven rounds already and interacting with the girls,” Maher said.

Camille recently hit a “milestone,” too.

“She got her ‘badge of honor’ already. One of the things you can tell a great caddy by is their caddy tan lines. That tan is a serious thing, and Camille is doing a great job working hard on it,” Maher said, prompting laughter from his young charge.

Those enrolled also get paid for caddying. The program is a highly competitive one and the academy receives thousands of applications every year, Maher said.

Prospective attendees, who apply during their freshman year, are evaluated on their academic performance, the opinions of their teachers and counselors, strengths, and the content of an essay, Maher said. Applications become available Jan. 1 and the deadline is March 1.

The students also take ACT/SAT prep classes twice a week and go on field trips.

“The vast majority of girls in the program are on track to be the first in their family to go to college. They’re really breaking ground and blazing a trail for younger siblings or cousins. [Their loved ones] can now put a face and have an example of what a college education can do,” Maher said.